Readiness for transition to adult care and factors associated with it among adolescents living with HIV seen in two hospitals in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have significantly improved the survival of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), resulting in an increasing number requiring transition from paediatric to adult HIV care. Successful transition depends on adequate transition readiness, making its assessment and the identification of associated factors essential for optimizing long-term health outcomes. This study assessed the transition readiness of adolescents living with HIV to adult HIV care and identified factors associated with transition readiness. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 adolescents living with HIV seen at two healthcare facilities. Transition readiness was assessed using the HIV Adolescent Readiness for Transition Scale (HARTS). A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and clinical information. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Of the 140 participants, 67 (47.9%) were males, with a mean age of 15.42 ± 2.79 years. Overall, 73 (52.1%) participants were ready for transition to adult care, with a mean HARTS score of 45.97 ± 14.55, while only 38 (27.1%) expressed willingness to transition. Independent predictors of transition readiness included being in the mid-adolescent stage (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 52.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.36–371.49, p < 0.001), late adolescence (AOR = 10.75, 95% CI: 1.92–60.18, p = 0.007), full HIV status disclosure (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.05–8.87, p = 0.040), having relatives as primary caregivers (AOR = 4.84, 95% CI: 2.04–18.67, p = 0.004), and willingness to transition to adult care (AOR = 4.97, 95% CI: 1.42–17.33, p = 0.012). Approximately one-half of adolescents living with HIV were ready for transition to adult care, whereas only about one-quarter were willing to make the transition. These findings underscore the need for structured, adolescent-centred transition programmes.